Similar build, similar skill set, similar background of success prior to their college careers. Boilermakers coach Matt Painter speaks of both with the same reverence for their steady play and team-oriented approach.

Cline wants to expand those comparisons. The Big Ten Conference knows he can shoot. He wants to command similar respect at the other end of the floor.

"Seeing Dakota from his sophomore to junior year, being able to lock those best players down, gave me more confidence," Cline said. "I think (Painter) has more confidence in me, and he sees a little of that in me too."

"Ryan's worked really hard to improve from a defensive standpoint," Painter said. "Dakota's obviously been able to do that at an all-conference level. Both of them are gritty, tough, cerebral-type players that help you win.

"They both came to college with a good feel and a good understanding of the game. They can feed off each other and learn from each other."

Cline speaks with pride of the defense played in his Carmel High School program. The Greyhounds never allowed more than 47.7 points per game in Cline's four seasons.

However, coming in with a solid foundation in defensive principles only provided solid footing.

"The high school Ryan played at, let's not get it twisted here, they didn't have the most athletic people," senior forward Vincent Edwards said. "But they found ways to win. They still won championships at Carmel and did a good job of playing team defense.

"As far as individually guarding, that's something he had to adjust to — guarding quicker, faster, stronger people. He's done a good job of it. He's a junior now. He's ready for it and he'll be able to produce on that end."

Edwards' confidence comes in part from seeing Cline wake up early for sprint sessions with Josh Bonhotal, Purdue's associate director of strength & conditioning. Unlike shooting and ball-handling, there are only so many things a player can do on his own in a gym to improve as a defender.

Cline followed the blueprint laid out by those who came before him: more diligence in the weight room, more film study and more focus on the floor.

"He was ahead of a lot of freshmen from a mental standpoint — knowing where to be, rotations, how to adjust, things like that," Mathias said. "That helped him. Now the physical piece is starting to kick in too — being able to move, get out in space, things like that. He's become an all-around defender as well."

Painter draws one more comparison between Mathias and Cline. He believes both have sacrificed for the better of the program.

Mathias is beginning to show the full score of his offensive potential. When you couple his offensive efficiency with his defensive prowess, it's a combination Purdue can rarely afford to take off the floor.

Naturally, that will mean fewer available minutes for Cline through no fault of his own.

Cline said, much like a defensive assignment, he'll try to handle that situation the same way Mathias would.

"Physically we're kind of the same player, but mentally we're a lot of the same player, too," Cline said. "Really all we care about is if Purdue wins.

"We don't care if we get 30 points. We don't care if we get 2. As long as we can do everything especially from a defensive perspective to help Purdue win, we're going to do that."